By Jacob Mathias

A 22-acre plot in a Wisconsin Rapids industrial park was brought back into city ownership after a unanimous vote by the Common Council on Tuesday night.

The plot, located in the West Side Industrial Park, was originally owned by the city but was purchased in 2010 for $260,300 by the United States Department of Military Affairs. The location was to serve a potential relocation of a readiness center containing an armory and National Guard site.

“Part of the agreement to sell the land said that they needed to secure funding within two years of the sale of that property,” said Director of Planning and Economic Development Adam Tegen. “At this point the federal funding has never come together and it’s not coming together into the near future.”

The city bought the property back for the same price it was originally sold.

“The city has control of the property in case we have other interested parties,” said Tegen.

He said that at this time there aren’t plans for any immediate development on the property. The 22 acres was sold as one unit but is currently divided into three separate parcels that can be parsed out as needed depending on what businesses show need. Warehousing, manufacturing and food processing businesses are most common in the industrial parks.

The lot is located on the northwest side of the Jefferson St. and 25th Ave N. intersection. It is bordered to the east by the Pepsi Cola General Bottlers.

The plot is zoned for industrial use and Tegen said that it is the largest available in the city. The remaining industrial lots are five acres or less.